• Energy Research
• 2017-2021close
• LT close

Many technical systems evolve dynamically and could be modeled by stochastic processes consisting of random jumps and deterministic motion components. A framework of stochastic differential equations (SDEs) for solving important problems in dynamic reliability has been developed: estimation of exit probability and mean time outside the safety domain. Solution methods based on formulations of systems of differential equations are proposed and discussed. An application on a safety system of a nuclear reactor demonstrates feasibility of the approach on realistic systems.

The paper is directed to an important yet controversial phenomena of public perception of nuclear energy in Lithuania. It discusses the conceptualization of nuclear energy public perception in relation to psychometric paradigm and its specified key elements of public security feelings. The empirical research is based on representative public poll carried out in 2017. Based on the discoveries of previous research when identifying the interdependence of public perception and support towards concrete political parties, four clusters were formed to test conceptual notions (importance of personal trust in energy industry and personal knowledge) and then relate it with the political preferences of each cluster. The results indicate the distribution of both nuclear energy as well as concrete energy projects public perception in relation to political preferences and peculiarities of security feeling among each cluster.

The paper highlights the main features of some Euratom projects, which have been running recently in support to education, training and mobility in the nuclear fields. The described projects address various critical aspects of nuclear knowledge management, aiming at maintaining the wealth of nuclear expertise in Europe in an environment characterised by decreased attractiveness of nuclear careers. In an effort to broaden the cooperation and to further extend the opportunities for mobility, some projects ran in parallel with similar initiatives undertaken beyond the European borders. The lesson learnt in terms of successes achieved and critical aspects revealed by the different actions are finally discussed also considering recent recommendations and assessed scenarios by the European Commission for the decarbonisation of the energy sector.

Abstract The aim of the paper is twofold - to cover the latest nuclear energy politics events and reveal the dynamics in public perception of nuclear energy by explaining the distribution of attitudes among two notable social groups in Lithuania. The paper is based on two empirical research studies (public polls) carried out in 2013 and 2017. The paper consists of four parts. starts with brief review of main happenings in recent nuclear politics and general tendencies public perception of nuclear energy. Then, it presents cluster analysis of both 2013 and 2017 polls, in which respondents were divided into two groups based on income, education and occupation. Lastly, the paper presents findings and discusses the dynamics of public perception. Comparing the 2017 data with the results of 2013, three main tendencies can be distinguished. First, society became better informed and more critical. Second, the cluster analysis divided respondents in two almost identical groups as in 2013 (with minor peculiarities). Third, the general tendency presupposes the breaking of the irrelevance of nuclear energy as an important factor for energy security in public perception.

Abstract In this paper, thermal analysis of German CASTOR RBMK-1500 casks for long-term (up to 300 years) storage of spent nuclear fuel at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant was performed. The numerical modeling code ALGOR (USA) which allows modeling temperature and heat flux distributions inside a cask (in fuel load) and in a cask body, was used. The modeling was performed for a cask in an open storage facility in summer and winter conditions. A detailed analysis was performed including previous results about casks with just loaded fuel (pre-stored in water pools for 5 years) and after 50 years of interim cask storage. Also, a local sensitivity analysis of parameters that mostly influence the temperature distribution was performed.

In this paper, we combine to evaluate interrelation of the financial performance indicators of companies from different European countries, rewards paid to CEO (compensation), companies' research and development (R&D) expenditure, changes in sustainability and innovativeness of country's economy. In this paper, economic sustainability is treated as economic growth in a long-term perspective, based on long-term value-added innovations. In this perspective, companies are one of the main sources in delivering financial/economic value from innovation for the country. That is why there are ongoing discussions to determine the links between companies' R&D, managers making risky decisions and countries economic development. The results of our research reflect the assumptions that companies' efficiently managed financial resources and financially motivated top-level managers targeting to accept the risk for R&D can contribute not only to increasing of company's economic potential, but also to the sustainability of a country's economy. These results reflect the assumptions that companies' efficiently managed financial resources and financially motivated top-level managers targeting to accept the risk for R&D can contribute not only to increasing of company's economic potential, but also to the sustainability of a country's economy.

The majority of renewable energy projects in West Africa represent examples of technology transfer from the European Union (EU) to Africa. This paper proposes a holistic approach for delivering sus...

AbstractThis paper deals with the effects of adding Jet A-1 fuel to ethanol (E) in proportions of 20/80 vol% in biofuel homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion. Experiments were p...

Specific wiring of biocatalysts par excellence, viz. redox enzymes, to an electrode can be exploited in the fabrication of high-performance bioelectronic devices. Here we report oxygen electroreduction catalysed by Didymocrea sp. J6 laccase wired to gold nanoparticles via the trinuclear copper cluster. Bypassing the intramolecular electron transfer, which under certain conditions is the rate-limiting step of oxygen bioelectroreduction, has resulted in the fabrication of a high current density biocathode based on high-redox-potential laccase, which is able to operate in electrolytes with a broad pH range in the presence of high fluoride concentrations.